Apparatus for washing flux from and coating the side seams of travelling can bodies



NOV- 25, 1958 G. M. FLYNN APPARATUS FoR WASHING FLUX FROM AND coATING THE SIDE SEAMS OF TRAVELLING CAN BODIES Filed sept. 14.1953

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE M. FLYN N Y mm so .n MA H wmf` Nov. 25, 1958 G. M. FLYNN 2,861,540v

APPARATUS FOR WASHING FLUX FROM AND OOATING THE SIDE SEAMS OF TRAVELLING CAN BODIES Filed sept. 14.1953

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 LOCATION OF FLUX RESI DUE i?) GEORGE Mlgfwf I BY 7M ,ffii

Hls ATTORNEYS APPARATUS Fon WASHING FLUX FROM AND coArrNG THE sinn sEAMs or TRAVELLING CAN BODIES George 'M. Flynn, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Continental 'Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York t Application September 14, 1953, Serial No. 379,811 Y 13 Claims. (Cl. 118-73) The invention relates generally to the art of making cans and primarily seeks to provide a novel apparatus for Washing oft', with water, the excess flux and flux residue from both the inside and outside of can bodies immediately after the solder bonding and wiping ofthe side seams thereof and while they are being rapidly conveyed in processional order in the body maker and side seamer.

-lt is known that ilux or ilux residue is objectionable on cans because of the bad effects on the cans and also products contained therein. For example, it has been observed that some iluxes will cause a turbid condition inl beer, and discoloration of other products such as shrimp and cranberries has been brought about by flux contact.Y

This objectionable condition is aggravated when strong, corrosive iiuxes are employed, as when the can bodies are being formed from black iron blanks. necessary in order to assure the eicient solder bonding of the side seams of can bodies formed from black iron blanks. It has been determined that heat generated during the solder bonding of can body side seams serves to volatilize the flux and cause a boiling oif and spatterng effect resulting in a re-deposition or dispersion of flux.

over the insides of the can bodies. The water component of the flux is evaporated, and the residue is distributed in varying degree over the can body interiors. Flux is similarly driven out of the side seams onto portions adjacent the seams externally, as well ask internally of the can b odies and often results in corrosion Iand rusting which interferes with proper application of protective and deco.

rative coatings. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for eectively bathing all portions of the rapidly travelling can bodies likely to have fiux or ilux residue thereon in water so as to remove the ilux or ux residue and prevent the objectionable eects to which reference has been made.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in providing an improved apparatus of the character stated including in combination with the usual outside horse and the conveyor means which feeds the cans in processional order past the soldering roll and the wiper roll, means for maintaining a free owing bath of water in the lower portion of the horse through which the side seams of the can bodies travel, thereby to cause the can body side seams and portions adjacent Vthereto to travel through and be washed free of flux and ilux residue by the water.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein is included baffle means effective to direct a portion of the'water bath over the whole of the interior of each passing can body so as t assure thorough washing of the whole interior of each can body as well as external portions along and adjacent to the solder cut.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the characterstated wherein the means for maintainingl the washing bath comprises a housing extending alongand sealed against the bottom of thehorse and having 4a 'drain chamber at each end thereof definedY by an end closure vwall and a Weir wall spaced inwardly-from Such fluxes are Y the closure wall, means for supplying water to the housing in the space between the Weir walls to flow over said weir walls into the drain chambers, the upper edges of the Weir walls being placed to maintain a level of free owing water well up in the lower portion of the horse, and drains leading away from the drain chambers and having a draining capacity always greater than the'ow'capacity of the water supplying means so as to assure against flooding of water endwise out of the housing.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an appa-- ratus of the character stated wherein the water directing bale means comprises a body at least partially cylindricalin shape and supported with its cylindrical exterior spaced. inwardly from the horse interior so that can `bodies canpass thereover as they are conveyed through the water bath in the horse, said baffle including a tapered leadingend portion for directing water over the interiors of the can bodies. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an appa#l ratus of the character stated wherein there are included a spraying nozzle placedto direct a protective coating spray onto the side seams interiorly of the travelling can bodies after they have been washed, and a duct extending longitudinally within the horse for supplying the coating material to the nozzle, and wherein the water diverting baie formsY a support for said duct.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appa` ratus of the character stated wherein the water diverting baiile is supported on and centered by rollers engagingthe interiorly presented,

can body guiding surfaces of the horse.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appa-A ratus of the character stated wherein there is included means for directing air under pressure against 'the Waterv diverting baffle and about the same in the space between the baille and the horsevand counter to the 'directioninr which the can bodiesareconveyed soas to be eiective to drive oi residual water from the can bodies and dry` the same, said residual water being driven back into the adjacent drain chamber to be drainedy therefrom withoutN any thereof passing out at the discharge end of the housing. v g

Another object of the invention is to provide an appal:

ratus of the character stated wherein there is included in apparatus of the character stated wherein are broadly combined means for washing can bodies both internally andY externally as they are being conveyed in processional order, means for drying the can bodies, and means for ape plying a protective coating over the side'seams internallyof the can bodies, all being accomplished in close progressive sequence immediately after the solder bonding and wiping of the side seams.

With the above and other objects in view that will'hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be Amore clearly understood by reference to the following detailed4 description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:l

Figures 1 and 1A, when considered as joined at the line A,-A, together comprise a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the invention as applied on a can body maker. t Y f Q Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation at the position of the air chambers, said chambers being shown in longitudinal section.

Patented Nov. 25, v1 958 Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken through the apparatus at the position of the water spreading bale.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at a. solder cut portion of a can body.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 looking into the interior of a can body at the side seam and indicating diagrammatically how ilux to be washed from the can bodies may be distributed thereabout.

It is well known that in the conventional manufacturingof can bodies',- the rectangular body blanks are fed along step by step through notching and ilanging stations and then have flux applied to the marginalv edges or ange portions which are to be formed into the can body side seams. The blanks are shaped about a horn and the flanges are brought together in a side seam and bumped to bring` the interlocking and overlapping plies' of the seam structures into intimate contact. Thereafter, the feeding of the can bodies is taken over by a continuously travelling conveyor which rapidly feeds the can bodies in processional order over the usuall soldering roll and the wiper roll disposed adjacent to and just beyond the soldering roll andy which is eifective to Wipe excess solder from the can bodies externally thereof and along the side seams while the solder is still in the molten state.

A can body is somewhat diagrammatically illustrated at C in Figure 4,` the same being shown as having a side seam Sof acceptable foi-m; Such can bodies after passing through the solder bonding station and having the excess solder removed therefrom by the wiping roll will have the usual solder cut extending therealong in the manner indicated atl 6 in Figure 4. The excess solder wiping roll is somewhat diagrammatically indicated at 7 in Figure `l and is to be considered as disposed immediately beyond the soldering4 roll in the conventional body maker structure, although in some body makers sweater burners may be interposed immediately between the solderingroll and the'wiping rolly for facilitating the sweating in of the solder. The wiping roll 7 illustrated in Figure 1 is to be considered a'diagrammatic illustration of the solder bonding station whether it be considered as including the solderingy Vroll and the wiping roll, or said soldering roll andthe wiping roll with a sweater burner equipment interposed therebetween;

It is well known that ux is appliedV to the marginal portions of the can body blanks which are formed into the can body side seams, andrthis iiux is applied to facilitate the solder bonding of the side seams. It is muchy more diilicult t'o provide an efcientrsolder bond when can bodies arebeing made up from mild steel or black ironblanks, and in such instances; strong corrosive fluxes are employed. It is highly desirable to remove all excess ilux or tlux residue from the can bodies, both internally and externally, in order to insure against contamination or discoloration ofproducts contained in the cans, and

also to prevent corrosion and rusting of can body portions. It has been found that the heat to which the can bodies are subjected while passing through the solder bonding Vstation serves to volatilize the ilux. There is a violent boiling off and spattering of the ilux which causes a redeposition thereof on the inside of the can body. It has been noted that approximately 90% of theiiuxresidue is located within. a center'stripe approximating one inch in width and extending along Vthe interior of can bodies at the seam4 position `as indicated in Figure 5.

Approximately 6% will vbe located within the stripe quarter indicated at the left of said central seam stripe `as shown in Figure 5, approximately 1% will, be disposed along the quarter to the right of 'saidl centralseam sntriil'zeV asshown inA Fi'gufreS, and. theremaining 2% 4will be disposed along theu'pperrhalfof thecan/body interior as indicated in said Figure 5. It is veuyfdiiiicultrto wash off the -ux after the. can bodies coolgbuft according tothe present invention. th'ewashing of the canrbodies at a temperature of'70`()or F., right afterthe `solder wipings v4. accomplished and while the solder stripe is still in a molten state, is found to beA highly efcieut.' Notonly is the washing oi of the flux accomplished more eiliciently, but the washing water acts as a solder cooler and eliminates the need for the provision of accessory cooling devices.

In passing to and through and beyond the solder bonding and wiping station, the can bodies are rapidly con# veyed in processional order by a chain ightl 8 running in a guide 9 atop an outside horse generally designated 10. See Figure 3. These are conventional and well. known structures and ther horse includes longitudinal laterally spaced members 11 having opposed, part cylindriform surfacesY 12 forming a supporting guideway for the can bodies C.

In the practical development of the invention, there is provided a housing generally designated 13 and having supporting ilange equipment 14 secured at 15 to the horse, there being included an interposed sealing' gasket 1,6. The housinghas anV advance` end closure 17 and a discharge end closure 18. A weir wall 19 is spaced inwardly from the advance end closure 17 and a similar Weir wall 20 is spaced inwardly from an intermediate wall 21. The advance end closure wall 17 and the adjacent weir Wall 19 cooperate in forming a drain chamber 22 at the advance end of the housing, and the Weir wall 20 and the adjacent intermediate wall 21 cooperate in defining a similar drain chamber 22 toward the discharge end of the housing. Each of the drain chambers 22 is equipped with a drain 23 for delivering drain water therefrom and directing the same to a waste means or collection means, or the same may be cooled and recirculated. Y

The space within the housing 13 between the weir walls 19 and 20 provides a water supply chamber which may or may not be equipped with divider walls 24 and to which water is supplied through a manifold duct 25 and individual supply ducts 26, one for each divided4 chamber, and all of the individual ducts 26, or all thereof except the foremost one nearest the advance end closure wall 17, may be equipped with flow control valves 27. It is to be understood that the rate of ilow of the water entering the housing through the duct means 25, 26 is accurately controlled with relation to the take-off capacity of the drains 23. This rate of supply will. always be less than the capacity of the drains 23y to take ofi the water in a manner for assuring against uncontrolled owing of any of the water over the end extremities of the housing 13. In other words, the drains 23 have a draining capacity always greater than the fiov'v capacity of the water supplying means.

A baiiileV generally designatedy 28 is mounted in the horse 10 in the manner clearly illustrated in the cornposite Figure l, 1A and in Figure 3, and is Wholly or at least partially cylindrical in form and includes a tapered advance end portion 29 as illustrated in Figure l. The baille is supported on and centered by rollers 3i) carried thereby and which engage internal surfaces of the horse members 11 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The bathe is so dimensie-ned, and the rollers 30 so support the same, as to provide an annular space surrounding the bafe and inwardly of the part-cylindricalv inner surfaces 12 of the horse members. 11, through which space the can bodies C may freely pass, guided by the horse surfaces 12 and passing longitudinally along and over the baille 28.

A spray tube 31 extends through` and is supported by the. baliie or distributor 28, and a spray head or nozzle 32 is mounted on the end of the tube as illustrated in the composite Figure 1, lA. The nozzle and tube equipment thus supported serves as a striping means for applying a protective stripe over the can body side seams internally of the can bodies after they have been washed and dried inthe manner to be described hereinafter.

The rate of flow of` the water supply through the duct means 25, 26 is so controlled, and thefweirwallszt) are so located, as to maintain a level of water well up in the' horse, somewhat as indicated at 33 in Figure 1,-the` water passing over the weir wall 19 at the advance end of the housing and down as at 34 into the advance drain chamber 22, and being diverted or distributed upwardly about the baille as at 35 and then passing down into the -trailing end drain chamber 22 somewhat in the manner indicated at 36. It will thus be apparent that'the lower, side seam equipped portions of the can bodies will be rapidly drawn through the bath of water maintained at 33 in the lower portion of the horse, and that the water will serve to thoroughly wash the portions of the can bodies adjacent the side seams, both internally and externally, as the can bodies are fed along toward the bale 28. As the can bodies pass over the baille the whole of the interior and exterior wall portions thereof will be bathed and washed by the water diverted about the baille in the manner clearly'indicated at 35, 36 in Figure 1.

A divider wall 37 may be provided in the housing 13 to cooperate with the adjacent wall 21 in forming a vacuum chamber 3S which may be connected at 39 with any suitable vacuum source (not shown). An intermediate wall 4i) may also be provided for dividing the housing space between the Walls 37 and 18 into two air blast chambers 41 which may be served with air under pressure through a manifold 42 and individual connector ducts 43. At least one of the individual ducts 43 may be equipped with a control valve 44, and it is to be understood that the chambers 41, and even possibly the vacuum chamber may be equipped with ceiling plate means 45. The ceiling plate means over the air chamber 41 are provided with air slots 46 angled so as to direct air blasts against the baille 2S and into the space surrounding the same withinV the horse in a direction counter to the direction of movement of the travelling can bodies. This provision of air blasts and the direction thereof serve not only to dry the washed can bodies but also to direct residual Washing water which may tend to cling to the can bodies and the bathe back toward and into the adjacent drain chamber 22. If desired, one or more air slots 47 angled in other directions may be provided for facilitating the drying action. It is to be understood also that if ceiling plate means is provided over the vacuum charnber 38, said. ceiling means willalso be equipped with slots communicating between the interior of the horse, or, in other words, the space surrounding the baille 28. This vacuum chamber means also facilitates the drying action and additionally assures against carrying of any residual water beyond the end of the housing.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is tovbe clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1.. In apparatus of the character described, means for conveying can bodies in processional order and in longitudnally spaced relation with their side seams in alignment, means maintaining a free owing bath of Water through which the can bodies are conveyed for washing ux and ux residue from the can bodies both externally and internally as they are being conveyed, said last named means including a distributer supported internally of the moving can bodies for diverting the bath water over the whole interiors of the moving can bodies, means for drying the can bodies as they are being conveyed, and means for applying a protective striping over the can body side seams internally of the can bodies as they are being conveyed and including a coating material supply duct extending through and supported by the distributer.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a horizontal and longitudinally extending horse forming 6 a guidewayr for can bodies, mean's for` conveying cari bodies in longitudinally spaced relation along in said horse, and means for maintaining a free owing bath of water in the lower portion of the horse through which side -seams of the can bodies travel, thereby to cause the can body side seams and portions of the can bodies adjacent thereto to travel through and be washed free of flux and flux residue by the water, and wherein there is also included baille means and means stationarily supporting the bale means to lie interiorly of the horse and in the water bath so that the can bodies are movable therealong and thereover and the baiile means will serve to distribute water over interior Wall portions of the can bodies.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a horizontal and longitudinally extending horse forming a guideway for can bodies, means for conveying can bodies in longitudinally spaced relation along in said horse, and means for maintaining a free owing bath of water in the lower portion of the horse through which side seams of the can bodies travel, thereby to cause the can body side seams and portions of thev can bodies adjacent thereto to travel through and be washed free of ilux and flux residue by the water, and wherein there is also included baie means and means stationarily supporting the baille means to lie interiorly of the horse and in the water bath, said bale means being at least in part cylindrical in shape and having its external wall portions spaced a limited distance inwardly of the opposing horse wall portions and including a tapered leading end portion eiective to distribute Water over interior wall portions of the can bodies.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a horizontal and longitudinally extending horse composed of opposing members presenting opposing part cylindrical can body guiding faces and spaced to present downwardly and upwardly presented longitudinal slotways, can body conveying means operating through the upper slotway to convey can bodies through the horse in processional order and in longitudinally spaced relation and with their side seams in line along the lower slotway, a housing extending along and sealed against the bottom of the horse and having a drain chamber at each end thereof deiined by an end closure Wall and a weir wall spaced inwardly from the closure wall, means vfor supplying water to the housing in the space between the Weir walls to ilow over said Weir walls into the drain chambers, the upper edges of the Weir walls being placed to maintain a level of free flowing water extending well up through the lower slotway into the horse, and drains leading away from the drain chambers and having a draining capacity always greater than the ow capacity of the water supplying means so as to assure against flooding of water endwise out of the housing.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baille means and means stationarily sup'- porting the baille means to lie interiorly of the horse and in the water bath so that the can bodies are movable therealong and thereover and the bale means will serve to distribute water over interior wall portions of the can bodies.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baflle means and means stationarily supportingV the bale means to lie interiorly of the bodies and in the water bath, said bale means being at least in part cylindrical in shape and having its external wall portions spaced a limited distance inwardly of the opposing horse wall portions and including a tapered leading end portion effective to distribute water over interior wall portions of the can bodies.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baffle means and means stationarily supporting the bale means to lie interiorly of the bodies and in the water bath, said baille means being at least in part cylindrical in shape and having its external wall portions spaced a limited distance inwardly of the oppos- I ius horse wall portions and including .a tapered leading and Portion eieetlive to distribute water over interior wall portions of .the can hodiesead baille means hehgeuP- portedjand centered on rollers mounted on the battle and engaging interior wall portions of the horse.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baille Ameans and means stationarily supporting the baille means to lie interiorly of the bodies and in the water bath, said baflle means being at least in part cylindrical in shape and having its `external wall portions spaced a limited distance inwardly of the opposing horse wall portions and including a tapered leading end portion effective to distribute water over interior Wall Portions of the .eau bodies, said baille means being sun Ported and Centered on rollers mounted on .the means and engaging interior -wall portions of `the horse, thereV being included also means for drying the can bodies, a duct `extending through and supported by the baille means, aud o nozzle ou the duet through which to spray a protective coating supplied through the duet onto the side seams interiorly of the can bodies after they are dried. Y

9. Apparatus of the character described, comprising, a horizontal and longitudinally extending horsek forming a guideway for can bodies, means for conveying can bodies in longitudinally spaced relation along in said horse, and means for maintaining a `free owing bath o water in the lower portion of the hor-se through which side seams of the can bodies travel, thereby to cause the A can body Side Seems and V{.tortior1-s of the can bodies adjacent thereto to travel through and be Washed free of flux and ilu); residue by the water, and wherein there is also included baiile means and means stationarily supporting the baille means to lie interiorly of the horse and in the water'bath so that the can bodies are movable therealong and thereovei and the baille means will serve to distribute water over interior wall portions of the can bodies, and means for directing air under pressure against the bale means and about the same in the space between the baille vmeans and the horse and counter to the directionV in which the can bodies are conveyed for drying the can bodies.

10- Apparatus of the character described Comprising. a, horizo'h-ral and longitudinally extending horse forming a suideway for eau bodies7 means, Yfor Conveying een bodies in longitudinally spaced relation along in said horse, and means .for maintaining a free owing bath .of water in the lower portion ot the horse through which eide seamsA et the can bodies .trai/eh thereby to Cause the can body side seams and portions of they can bOdieS adjacent thereto te travel through and. bewashed free offiflux andv flux residue by the water, aud wherein there is also included bathe means and means stationarily supporting, the battle meansY tol lie iuterorly of the horse and iu the waterbath, said bahlemeans being at least i.

in part cylindrical in shape and having its external Wall portions spaced. a limiteddistauee inwardly of the Opposing horse Wall portions and including aA tapered leading end Portion .eletye tol distribute Water over interior 8 wall portions of the can bodies, and means for direct ing air under pressure against the .baille .means and about ille .Same in the space between the baille means and the horse and counter to the direction in which the can bodies are conveyed for drying the can bodies.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baille means and means stationarily supporting the baille means to lie interiorly of the horse and in the water bath so that the can bodies are movable therealong and thereover and the baffle means will serve to distribute water over interior Wall portions of the can bodies, and means for evacuating a portion of the housing lying opposite the baille means to bring about a drying of the can bodies immediately after the Washing thereof.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baille means and means stationarily supporting the baffle means to lie interiorly of the horse and in the water bath so that the can bodies are movable therealong and thereover and the baffle means will serve to distribute water over interior wall portions of the can bodies, and means for drying the can bodies immediately after the Washing thereof and including means for directing air under pressure against the baille means and about the same in the space between the baie means and the horse and counter to the direction in which the can bodies are conveyed.

13. Apparatus as deiined in claim 4 wherein there is also included baille means and means stationarily supporting the baille means to lie interiorly of the horse and in'thefwater bath so that the can bodies are movable therealong and thereover and the baille means will serve to distribute Water over interior wall portions of the can bodies, means for evacuating a portion of the housing lying opposite the baille means, and means for drying the can bodies immediately after the washing thereof and including means for directing air under pressure against the bathe means and about the same in the space between the baffle means and the horse and counter to the direction in which the can bodies are conveyed.

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